Folding chair



June 1 7,1969 L. D. MINSKER 3,450,432

FOLDING CHAIR Filed May 8, 1968 Sheet of s INVENTOR. LAWRENCE D.MlN$KERBY 1151115, Ho {mannTFl 5ML l-{einkb ATTORNEYS.

Juhe 17, 1969 L... D. MINSKER FOLDING CHAIR Filed May a. 1.968

F'IGAA INVENTOR. LAWRENCE D.M|NSKER BY LU'dfilS HofimannTHShflbi HeinllmATTORNEYS.

Juhe 17, 1969 D. MINSKER FOLDING CHAIR Sheet Filed May 8. 1968 FIGSINVENTOR. LAWRENCE D.M|NSKER BY Wolfsfi-[OflmqMFSMiHdnkb ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Oihce 3,450,432 Patented June 17, 1969 3,450,432FOLDING CHAIR Lawrence D. Minsker, Raadman/steins Alle 22, Copenhagen,Denmark Filed May 8, 1968, Ser. No. 727,411 Int. Cl. A47c /10; A47d 1/02U.S. Cl. 297-17 14 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A folding chairincluding first and second supporting structures pivotally connectedtogether, a seat, and a back each pivotally connected to one of thesupport strucrtures. The back and seat are disposed at a slight obtuseangle with respect to each other when the chair is in its erectedcondition and are pivotally movable with respect to the supportingstructures about a common axis. The back and seat are disposed in asubstantially parallel relationship with each other when the chair is inits folded condition. The seat is interconnected with one of thesupporting structures so that as the seat portion is moved between itspositions wherein the chair is erected and folded, respectively, the oneof the support structures is pivoted so that in a folded condition ofthe chair, the back, the seat, :and support structures are all disposedin substantially parallel planes to facilitate storage and carrying.

Background 0 the invention Field of the inven tion.The present inventionrelates to a folding chair and more particularly relates to a foldingchair which in its folded condition occupies a relatively flatrectangular volume.

The prior art-The prior art proposals for folding chairs have in manycases provided a chair which is foldable or collapsible into a foldedcondition having a vertical height which is greater than the erectedchair. While chairs of the type refer-red to are relatively easilystacked for storage, the folded assembly takes up rather large volumesof storage space and are relatively cumbersome and inconvenient whencarried by an individual for any substantial distance.

Such chairs generally include a unitary back and floor engaging supportmember with a seat portion pivotally connected to the back and floorengaging member. A second floor engaging member is also usually pivotedto the mentioned member. Other prior art proposals have provided chairswhich can be folded up into a box-like structure resembling a suitcase.Typically the legs of chairs are interconnected by linkages which :arecomposed of numerous sheet metal parts connected at their ends by rivetsetc. Additionally such chairs often include a belt or strap whichmaintains the structure in the folded condition.

Still other proposals have suggested the use of telescoping legs etc.which pivot relative to the seat of the chair by breaking sheet metallinks interconnecting the legs, seat, or back of the chair as the casemay be.

While such proposals have provided folding chairs which can be carriedby an individual and which can be stored in a relatively small space,such structures:

(1) Have been relatively unsightly due to the large number of sheetmetal links interconnecting the various portions of the chair, or due tothe telescopic nature of various parts of the assembly;

(2) Have been relatively bulky in the folded condition;

l( 3) Difficult to correctly erect and fold; and

(4) Have been unattractive.

Furthermore, due to the large number of parts which must be provided inthe great majority of prior art chairs of the type referred to suchchairs have been relatively expensive to the consumer as well asditlicult to manutacture rand fabricate.

Summary of the invention The present invention provides a new andimproved folding chair which in its erected condition is essentiallydevoid of visible linkages or supporting parts interconnecting the legs,back and seat, thus providing a stylish :and clean appearance. Thischair, in its folded condition, occupies :a relatively narrowrectangular volume and is easily and conveniently stored andtransported.

The present invention further provides a folding chair which isconstructed of relatively few parts, many of which are formed by sheetmetal stampings, land is particularly suited for use with upholsteredbacks and seats. The chair, in its folded condition, protects theupholstered portions of the seat and back.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description thereof made withreference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of thespecification.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of achair embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the chair in FIG. 1 and shown on a largerscale than the scale of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is 'a sectional view seen from the plane indicated by the line2A-2A of FIG. 2 and shown on a larger scale than the scale of FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the portion of the chair of FIG. 1 withinthe line 3, shown on a scale which is larger than the scale of FIG. 1and with parts removed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the chair of FIG. 1 at one conditionduring folding of the chair;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the chair of FIG. 1 in a lfOldCdcondition; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the portion of the chair in FIG. 4 withinthe line 5, and having parts removed.

Description of the preferred embodiment A folding chair embodying thepresent invention is shown generally at 10, FIG. 1. The chair 10includes a pair of ground engaging support .structures 11, 12, a seatstructure 13 and back structure 14. The seat structure 13 includes agenerally fiat, rectangular cushion or pillow 15. The disclosed cushion15 has a foam-like pad 16 and a plywood backing member 17. The pad 16 iscovered by a suitable upholstering fabric 18, FIGS. 3-5. The backstructure 14 includes a cushion 20 which is constructed identically tothe cushion 15.

When the chair 10 is in its erected condition, the cushion 15 isdisposed at a slight angle with the horizontal. The front end of thecushion 15 is elevated slightly above the back of it, that is the end ofthe cushion adjacent the back structure 14. The cushions 15, 20 arepreferably disposed with their major surfaces at a slight obtuse angleas is usual in the construction of chairs.

As is best seen in FIG. 2 the support structure 11 is a unitary memberincluding a pair of supporting legs 22, 23 connected at their lower endsby a floor contacting lateral 24. Each of the legs 22, 23 has anenlarged body portion 25 at its upper end as is described in greaterdetail presently.

The support structure 12 includes legs 26, 27 which are interconnectedat their lower extremities by a floor contacting lateral 28 and at theirupper ends by a lateral 30. The lateral member 30 is fixed to arms 33,34 which are formed integrally with the legs 26, 27 respectively. Thearms 33, 34 each include an aperture 35 alignable with a correspondingaperture 36 formed in each of the leg bodies 25. Axially aligned hingepins 37 each extend through one of the apertures 35 and an aligned oneof the apertures 36. The hinge pins 37 permit the structures 11, 12 torotate relative to each other about the axis of the pins. In the erectedcondition the structures 11, 12 lie generally in planes forming an acuteangle which is of suflrcient size that the chair is stable.

The legs 22, 23; 26, 27 and the laterals 24, 28 are preferably oftubular construction and typically include nested sheet metal channels(see FIG. 2A) WhICh are suitably fixed together as by welds. In thepreferred embodiment the legs taper proceeding toward their lowerextremities. The legs and many of the other structural elements of thechair are preferably of steel or aluminum stampings.

The seat structure 13 includes a pair of seat supports 40, 41 in theform of sheet ;metal .angle members. The seat supports 40, 41 each havea generally horizontally extending flange 42 and a vertically extendingflange 43. The horizontal flanges 42 are provided with suitableapertures so that the supports 40, 41 can be connected to the cushion 15by screws inserted through the apertures of the flanges 42 and threadedinto the backing 17.

Each of the vertical flanges 43 includes an enlarged end portion 45having an opening 46. Axially allgned pivot pins 47 project throughapertures in the body 25 and the flange openings 46. The seat structure13 is rotatable about the axis of the pins 47. When the chair is in itserected condition the members 40, 41 rest upon the lateral 30 to supportthe seat structure 13 in the erected condition. The seat structure isrotatable about the axis of the pins 47 away from the lateral 30 in agenerally counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, as isdescribed more fully presently.

The back structure .14 includes back supports 55, 56 supporting thecushion 20. The back supports 55, 56 are formed by sheet metal angleseach having a side flange 60 and a rear flange 61. The rear flanges 61are provided with suitable openings for the reception of screws whichare screwed into the backing of the cushion 20 so that the cushion isnested in the flanges of the angles 55, 56.

The lower extremities of the angles 55, 56 are defined by arcuatelycurved arms 62, 63 each of which extends from the cushion 20 toward thebodies 25. Ends 65, 66 of the arms 62, 63 are provided with openings 70,71 which receive the pivot pins 47 so that the entire back structure 14is pivotal about the axis of the pins 47.

Each of the ends 65, 66 includes a shoulder 72 at its lower side. Theend shoulders are respectively engageable with a support shoulder 73 onthe horizontal flanges 42. When the seat 13 and back 14 are in theirpositions illustrated in FIG. 1, the shoulders 72, 73 of the seat 13 andback 14 are engaged to prevent rotation of the back 14 away from theseat 13. The seat 13 is free to rotate in a generally clockwisedirection as viewed in FIG. 1 about thte axis of the pivot pins 47 intoparallel relationship with the seat 13.

The chair .10 is folded by lifting the projecting end of the seatstructure 13 to rotate the seat in a counterclockwise direction (asviewed in FIG. 1) toward the back 14. The shoulders 72, 73 of the backand seat structures are disengaged and the seat structure is freelymovable toward the back structure until the cushions 15, 20 are inengagement after which the back and seat structures can be rotated as aunit about the axis of the pivots 47. When the chair is fully folded,the major surfaces of the cushions 15, 20 are disposed in planesgenerally parallel to the planes of the support structure 11.

With the back and seat structures related as described it is apparentthat the plywood backings of the cushions 15, 20 face outwardly of thefolded back and seat structures while the padded portions of thecushions are in facing relationship. Thus, gouging, etc. of the paddingis prevented when the chair is folded.

Referring to FIG. 3 the chair additionally includes structure forarticulating movement of the support structure 12 in response tomovement of the seat structure 13. The articulating structure 90includes earns 91 at each side of the seat 13. The cams 91 interconnectthe seat 13 and support structure 12 (FIG. 2). The cams 91 are identicalin construction and function and therefore only one is described indetail.

The cam 91 is a generally planar sheet metal member having an elongatedslot-like cam track 92, FIG. 3. The sides of the cam track are slidablyengaged with one of the pivot pins 47. Each of the cams 91 includes anaperture 93, each aperture 93 receives a pin 94. Each pin 94 is carriedby one of the arms 33. The structure 12 is pivotal with respect to thecam about the axis of the pin 94.

Each arm 91 carries a pin 95. The pins 95 respectively extend throughelongated slots 96 in the flange portions 43. The pins 95 coact with theslots 96 to control relative movement of the cams and the seat structure13. The cams 91 each have a lobe 97, FIG. 3. When the chair is in itserected position the lobes 97 engage the lateral 30 to locate thestructures relatively and assist in the support of the weight of theuser.

As indicated previously, the seat structure 13 is rotated in a generallycounterclockwise direction from the position of FIGS. 1 and 3 to thestorage position of FIG. 4. As the seat structure 13 is rotated aboutthe axis of the pins 47, the cams 91 are lifted upwardly by engagementof the pins 95 and slots 96. This lifting causes translation androtation of the cams relative to the pins 47 and rotation of thestructure 12 about the pins 94. This lifting of the cam members 91swings the structure 12 toward the support structure 11 as the pivotpins 94 are raised relative to the pivot pins 37. Thus the angle betweenthe support structures 11, 12 is reduced.

At the time when the seat structure 13 has been rotated to approximatelya vertical orientation with respect to the floor, FIG. 4A, the supportstructure 12 has been pivoted relative to the structure 11 so that thesupport structures 11, 12 lie in planes which are generally parallel.Continued rotation of the seat beyond this orientation causes furtherrotation of the cams 91 about the now stationary pins 94. When the seatstructure 13 has been rotated about 270 and the back structure 14 andearns 91 about 180 each, the chair has been changed to its storagecondition of FIG. 4. In this condition the seat and back cushions areengaged and their structures coextend with the support structures 11,12. Thus, the entire folded assembly forms a relatively flat rectangularbox-like configuration.

During closing rotation the back and seat structures are prevented fromrotating beyond the plane of the structures 11, 12 by engagement of thearms 62, 63 with the lateral 30. Further, since the lateral 30 isrigidly connected to the remainder of the support structure 12 thelateral rotates about the hinge pins 37 during closing movement. Whenthe chair is fully folded and stood on the then aligned floor supports24, 26, the lateral 30 is disposed horizontally. As is best seen inFIGS. 2 and 4 the lateral 30 includes a centrally located handle offset100. When the chair is folded the handle offset serves as a handle bywhich the chair 10 may be transported. The distance D, FIG. 5, betweenthe handle 100 and the ends of the lateral 30 is such that the handle issubstantially over the center of gravity of the chair when the chair iscarried. Accordingly, the folded chair may be carried relatively easilyin the manner of a briefcase or the like, and hangs in a substantiallyvertical orientation when so carried.

The configuration of the cams 91 are such that they are well hidden bothwhen the chair is in its erected and folded conditions. Since the camsand parts connected to the bodies 25 do not protrude, a clean, smoothexterior appearance is provided. Further, there is little danger of 5snagging or gouging of articles by protruding parts when the chair iscarried or used.

I claim:

1. A foldable chair comprising:

(a) interconnected leg, back and seat structures;

(b) said structures having a seating position wherein the seat and backstructures are disposed in transverse relation with one another wherebyto provide weight and back support, respectively, and wherein the legstructures are spaced to provide support for the seat and backstructures;

() said chair having a folded condition wherein the seat and back are inface-to-face relationship and nested within the leg structures toprovide an overall generally box-like configuration;

(d) said seat and back structures being rotatable in the same directionfrom the erected position to the storage position and rotatable in theopposite direction to move from the storage position to the erectedposition; and

(e) articulated means interconnecting the structures and causingshifting of all of the structures from one position to the other uponrotation of the seat structure relative to the leg structures.

2. A chair as defined in claim 1 wherein said articulated means includesat least one cam connected to said leg structures and at least one ofsaid back and seat structures, said cam effecting relative movementbetween said leg structures in response to rotation of said one of saidback and seat structures.

3. A chair as defined in claim 2 wherein said cam is connected to one ofsaid leg structures for rotation about an axis, said one of said backand seat structures drivingly connected to said cam to effect rotationof said cam about said axis, said one of said back and seat structuresdriving said cam to shift said axis of rotation while rotating said cam.

4. A chair as defined in claim 1 wherein one of said leg structuresincludes a member defining a carrying handle for said chair when in saidfolded condition, said carrying handle disposed in a plane extendingclosely adjacent the center of gravity of said chair in the foldedcondition.

5. A chair assembly which is foldable into a relatively fiat rectangularconfiguration comprising:

(a) a first pair of supporting legs operable as a unit;

(b) a second pair of supporting legs connected for rotation as a unitwith respect to said first pair of legs between a first positiondefining an acute angle with said first supporting legs and a secondposition wherein said second pair of supporting legs are substantiallyparallel to said first legs;

(c) a seat structure pivotally movable with respect to said first pairof legs and rotatable between a first generally horizontal position anda second position generally parallel to said first supporting legs;

(d) a back structure pivotally movable with respect to said firstsupporting legs, said back structure including a surface engageable witha surface of said seat structure in said first position to fix said backstructure in a position defining a relatively small obtuse angle withsaid seat structure, and movable to a second position disposedsubstantially parallel to said seat structure; and

(e) a manually engageable handle forming part, said handle forming partand the center of gravity of said chair being disposed in a planegenerally parallel to said pairs of said supporting legs and said backand seat structures in said second positions.

6. A folding chair as defined in claim 5 and further including linkagemeans for interconnecting one of said back and seat structures to saidsecond supporting legs, said linkage means operative to move said secondsupporting legs to said second position as said one of said structuresis moved from its first to its second position.

7. A folding chair as defined in claim 6 wherein said linkage meansincludes at least one cam member engaged with said second pair ofsupporting legs and connected for movement to said one of said back andseat structures, said cam member movable in response to movement of saidone structure to effect movement of said second pair of supporting legs.

8. A chair as defined in claim 7 wherein said cam member includes a camtrack for providing for rotation and translation of said cam memberrelative to the axis of rotation of said one structure and a pivotconnection with said second support legs.

9. A chair as defined in claim 8 wherein said cam member furtherincludes a second cam t-rack providing for rotation and translation ofsaid cam member relative to said one structure.

10. A chair as defined in claim 7 wherein said cam member includes alobe portion engageable with a part of one of said fi-rst and secondsupport legs when said chair is erected to provide a support for saidstructure.

11. A chair as defined in claim 5 wherein said back and seat structuresinclude load supporting members pivotally movable about a common axis,said surfaces of said structures defined by shoulders formed in saidload supporting members adjacent said axis.

12. A folding chair having erected and folded conditions comprising:

(a) first and second floor or ground engaging support structurespivotally interconnected;

(b) a back structure;

(c) a seat structure; and,

(d) connecting means between said structures providing for pivotalmovement of said back and seat structures with respect to said supportstructures and each other to provide a folded condition of said chai-rwherein said support, back and seat structures coextend with each other;

(e) said chair in said erected condition being devoid of supportsextending between spaced locations on said support seat and backstructures.

13. A folding chair as defined in claim- 12 wherein said connectingmeans includes at least one cam member connected between one of saidsupport structures and one of said back and seat structures, said cammember rotating with respect to said one support structure connected tosaid other support structure for relative movement and said cam membereffecting relative movement between said support members while rotatingrelative to said one member.

14. A chair as defined in claim 13 wherein said cam member is connectedfor rotation and translation with respect to said other support memberand said one back or seat member, said cam member rotating throughapproximately degrees when said chair is operated between its folded anderected conditions and moving said one support structure through anacute angle of rotation.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,976,567 10/ 1934 Kovats 297-472,244,399 6/1941 Kovats 297-47 2,729,276 1/ 1956 Volney 29717 DONALD A.GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner.

US Cl. X.R. 297-47

